Whole-Grain Spelt Salad With Leeks and Marinated Mushrooms Recipe

Grain salads are forgiving and flexible, and nutty spelt takes well to all kinds of vegetables like fennel, arugula, or carrots. Here, quick-marinated mushrooms, leeks, and cucumbers combine for a refreshing, flavorful salad.

Why this recipe works:

Marinating the cooked mushrooms and leeks with cider vinegar for 15 minutes allows them to absorb the vinegar so that each bite delivers a pop of tartness.

A sprinkling of espelette pepper powder adds a blast of color and a mild, wonderfully fruity red-pepper flavor.

Directions

1.

In a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until tender and their water has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add leek, garlic, and thyme, season with salt and pepper, and cook until leak is tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer to large bowl and stir in 1/4 cup cider vinegar. Let stand 15 minutes.

2.

In a large bowl, stir together spelt, cucumbers, and mushroom-leek mixture. Stir in remaining 6 tablespoons olive oil, 2 tablespoons cider vinegar, parley, and chives, and season with salt and pepper. Spoon salad into bowls and sprinkle with espelette pepper, if using.

This Recipe Appears In

Daniel cooked for years in some of New York's top American, Italian and French restaurants - starting at the age of 13, when he began staging at the legendary restaurant Chanterelle. He spent nearly a year working on organic farms in Europe, where he harvested almonds and Padron peppers in Spain, shepherded a flock of more than 200 sheep in Italy, and made charcuterie in France. When not working on, thinking about, cooking and eating food, he blows off steam (and calories) as an instructor of capoeira, the Afro-Brazilian martial art.

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